SAN JOSE — A 14-year-old boy was stabbed in a gang-related incident at the family-friendly Christmas in the Park celebration Saturday night — the first such serious crime at the annual event in recent memory.

San Jose police responded to reports of the stabbing at 8:48 p.m. when the event, which takes place ever year at the Plaza de Cesar Chavez along South Market Street, was in full swing. Reports on police communication lines said that the teenager suffered stab wounds to his chest and left arm, injuries later described as not life-threatening.

The boy was taken to a local hospital shortly after the attack. But as police secured traffic and sought aid for the boy, three suspects fled the scene, said police spokesman Officer Albert Morales. He said police believe the incident was gang-related based upon words exchanged at the scene of the crime.

The incident was highly unusual for Christmas in the Park, which attracts roughly 450,000 visitors each year.

“You have kids around there and families, but you also occasionally have people out there causing havoc — we’ve definitely seen it,” Morales said. “But this is the first time we’ve had any situation like this.”

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